M42 - what a difference a year makes

[Sparrow]

About a year ago I had my first go at M42 with my Meade LPI (maximum 15 second exposures). I've been dying to return to it with my new set up - Couldn't resist a quick go at it last night before I packed away.

The new image is all at ISO 800, 6 x 20 seconds, 10 x 45 seconds and 10 x 90 seconds. Really I could have done with some longer exposures to get more detail of the running man.

Stacked in DSS, processed in CS3 and layered in Paint Shop Pro.

[Catanonia]

Very nice and a massive improvement. My next target is M42

[blinky]

Very nice, very natural looking

[steve_bham]

Massive improvement, i bet your very pleased.

[beamish]

XLNT capture !

[Deneb]

Hi

You have certainly made a big difference in your imaging, you must be very happy, I know I would be. Was this a Guided shot or Unguided ?

cheers

Nadeem.

[Sparrow]

Thanks for the kind comments everyone.

Nadeem - yes it was guided, but as the longest exposures were only 90 seconds, It could have been done unguided if necessary.

[Psychobilly]

Very nicely captured and processed the combination of sub lengths has kept the trap under control

Peter...

[Beyond_Vision]

A great improvement I bet you are pleased

Regards

Kevin

[George]

A massive improvement, bet your pleased with that

[Sparrow]

Very nicely captured and processed the combination of sub lengths has kept the trap under control

Peter...

Thanks Peter - yes I read an article and tutorial early this year about blending sub lengths to deal with the wide range of brightness in M42 - I haven't actually done it the way the tutorial did it, but it gave me the inspiration to use layers and blending.

[oceanheadted]

That's a great image. Just shows what can be achieved with some hard work and application.